Digital Public Goods (DPG) – University Meetup Report
IPAM Chapter
Date: 12th July 2025
Venue: DSTI Hub, IPAM Main Campus
Organised by: Sheku Jan Kamara & Ibrahim Success Swaray
Attendance info:
Total numbers of Attendees: 44
Total Numbers of Male: 34
Total numbers of Female 10
Meetup Overview
University: Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) – University of Sierra Leone
Theme: Tech for Good: Building and Promoting Digital Public Goods
Guest Speakers / Stakeholders
- Alhaji Samura – Technology Advocate & DPG Mentor
- Anthony Mustapha Sannoh – Software Developer & Youth Innovator
- Esther N. Kamara – IT Student
- Abdul Rahim Jalloh – Representative, Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation – DPG Lead
Key Insights / Highlights
- Speakers emphasised the role of open-source technologies in addressing local challenges.
- During the panel discussion, the former SU President shared powerful insights on the role of youth leadership in driving the adoption of Digital Public Goods (DPGs). He emphasized that students are not just beneficiaries but key contributors to open-source innovations that can solve pressing societal challenges. His remarks highlighted the importance of collaboration, digital literacy, and proactive engagement in building a more inclusive and tech-driven future.
- The president of Information systems and technology society IPAM, showed great interest and commitment towards not only the awareness of DPG, but also paving way to ensure that there’s hands on desk to solve problems within IPAM through the use of open source technologies
- Plans emerged to form student project teams at IPAM to actively contribute to global DPG efforts.
Challenges / Lessons Learned
Minor technical delays at the start, swiftly resolved by the organizing team.
- Limited seating led to some standing — future events will prioritize larger venues.
What’s Next?
- Hands-on DPG Workshop on GitHub & Open Source Tools – August 5, 2025
- Launch of the first student-led DPG project at IPAM
- Regional collaboration with other university chapters for joint innovation events
Notes
All communications and materials from the DPG student chapter are produced in collaboration with:
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation.
